IRVING, Texas - The Howard Payne University baseball team split a doubleheader vs. the University of Dallas on Saturday evening. The Jackets won game one, 6-2 but fell 8-4 during game two.

Matthew Parks struck out six batters over 5.2 innings of action and Howard Payne (7-7) used a three-run third inning to run away with the 6-2 win in game one. 

The University of Dallas (5-8) overcame a three-run second inning from the Jackets to take the 8-4 result after scoring five unanswered runs and pulling ahead for good in the fourth inning of game two.

Brett Quackenbush went 3-4 from the plate with a triple and one RBI and Zach Moseley picked up his fourth save of the season to help will the Jackets to the 6-2 victory.

Bailey Smith scored two runs and drove in two RBI's with a double down the left field line to help seal the game. Blake Null was 2-3 from the plate and the Jackets scored on each of their six hits to start off the three-game series vs. the Crusaders.

Howard Payne fell behind 1-0 after the University of Dallas scored off of a single to right field in the second inning. The Jackets responded by scoring five unanswered runs through 5.5 innings.

David Groves and Bailey Smith each took walks to start out the third innings and Cliff Lunceford would bring them around with a hard hit ball to the shortstop. Noah Payne singled to put Lunceford on third and he would eventually go on to score on a wild pitch to give Howard Payne the 3-0 lead.

Benjamin Lewis started off the fourth inning with a single down the right field line and would later come around to score on a dropped ball to extend the lead to 4-0.

Both teams would go scoreless over the next two innings until the Jackets put together a two-run top of the seventh to help pad their lead and fight off a late rally from the Crusaders.

Bailey Smith doubled down the left field line to start the inning and Joshua Gerig reached on a fielder's choice. Brett Quackenbush would then step up to the plate and clear the bases with a triple to deep right field to give Howard Payne a 6-1 lead.

The University of Dallas managed to score one run in the bottom of the seventh but Zach Moseley settled in and helped retire the side and deliver the 6-2 victory.

During the second game of the doubleheader, Howard Payne fell behind 3-0 after the Crusaders put two runners on base and homered to deep centerfield. 

The Jackets responded with a three-run inning of their own in the top of the second. David Groves took a one-out walk and Blake Null singled to shortstop to pit runners in scoring position.

After Chris Byrd took a walk to load the bases, Ian Tyra was struck by a pitch to bring in Groves. A Joshua Gerig single up the middle brought in Null and tied the game up at 3-3.

But the Crusaders responded by scoring five unanswered runs through the game's next three innings to pull ahead 8-3 and hold on down the stretch despite a late rally from the Jackets.

Benjamin Lewis scored after Blake Null took a walk and Chris Byrd reached base on a fielder's choice. But the damage had already been done and the University of Dallas evened the series up at 1-1 with the 8-4 victory.

Jonathan George and Nathan Weyrauch split time on the hill for the Jackets with the pair combining to strike four batters over 29 at-bats.

Cliff Lunceford finished 2-4 fro the plate and Blake Null was 2-3 with a run scored and a double in the loss.  Chris Byrd added one RBI on 1-2 hitting and Benjamin Lewis was 1-2 with two walks and one run scored.
 
Up next for the Jackets is the series finale vs. the University of Dallas at 2:00 PM tomorrow.

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